Well, maybe not the whole universe, that'd be a bit much...

But the idea of this thread is to revive the discussion that existed in the Writer's Lounge at some point where we tried to reach a consensus as to how the RHG worked and what it's place in the world was. We made some headway, but ultimately, the discussion died down. World building however, is fun so people in the Writer's Lounge skype chat ended up deciding that we should give it another shot.

What we'd like to have discussed as a starting point would be:

- How did the RHG come to be? As in, when did it show up and what made it what it is today? How does it operate and how much resistance to its operations does society give? Is it considered normal?

- What is the technology level of the RHG? How advanced is their equipment and can they bring back the dead?

- How does the RHG keep track of its gladiators and how are all the battles recorded?

- Where are the battles held? Are they constrained to just arenas or can they happen elsewhere, and if so, how big is their range? If there's collateral damage, what consequences do the gladiators suffer? Does the RHG cover for them? Provide them with legal protection?

- General Rules and Regulations for the RHG? What would be considered penalties or felonies considered in the RHG system, would repeat offenders get reprimanded, (Maybe a penalty in the next battle, suspension from battles) or even eliminated?

- And perhaps the biggest question which there might be no answer for: Where do all these people, mutants, super-powered beings, deities, magicicians, undescribable beasts come from and how does the RHG deal with them? Why did they find this world to be so special?


Anyone is free to chime in with what their image of the RHG is, but it helps to fundament your idea so, by all means, come and share your thoughts on the matter.

A few random thoughts as well.

For an answer to the keeping track though, I would assume there would be a registration system for gladiators. Maybe they would have a chip implanted into them, or for an easier way, maybe a personal phone or even just a card that would identify them as RHG, that their data can be recorded on.

Basically the Registration System would be as we register our fighters on the forums, they fill out a form, maybe have a test (or demo) to see if they are entertaining for the crowds. Then they decide on who to battle via going through their catalog. Mutual agreement for the battle, or with agreement from the RHG if it's a surprise attack.


General Rules and Regulations for the RHG? What would be considered penalties or felonies considered in the RHG system, would repeat offenders get reprimanded, (Maybe a penalty in the next battle, suspension from battles) or even eliminated?

Idea tossing time, weeeee!

- What is the technology level of the RHG? How advanced is their equipment and can they bring back the dead?
I was thinking the RHG had medics who are specially trained to deal with injuries caused by whatever weapons/powers a Gladiator may have (magic, plasma, ect.). By using advanced technology and methods, they can bring a Gladiator back from the dead, but only before a certain amount of time passes.

- How does the RHG keep track of its gladiators and how are all the battles recorded?
I had this little idea that every Gladiator is given a small device with has multiple functions that makes it similar to a cell phone, but it's main purpose is to keep tabs on the Gladiators and to allow them to communicate with one another.

- Where are the battles held? Are they constrained to just arenas or can they happen elsewhere, and if so, how big is their range? If there's collateral damage, what consequences do the gladiators suffer? Does the RHG cover for them? Provide them with legal protection?
I was thinking the Gladiators receive a location from the RHG to battle at that's sort of halfway from either Gladiator's location. The RHG picks up the tab on collateral damage, but Gladiators are punished for civilian casualties.

I actually worked long time ago about this kind of stuff together with Shadowkirby when I thought I could make a movie about RHG (I didn't tell him all of it though)
I'll try to answer every question as a way to show it off


-How did the RHG come to be?
The RHG is a way to categorize fighters with abnormal capabilities, or because they have powers or because they're extremely strong even without them

-When did it show up and what made it what it is today?
RHG showed up as a game (coliseum style) in which the people who partecipated were mainly wielding powers. Later, it has been adopted as a way to refer to them internationally

-How does it operate and how much resistance to its operations does society give?
It is basically about registering and monitorate people who are classified as RHGs. Basically, all people who are born with powers or obtain them in any ways are to be considered RHGs. People with no powers at all can still be considered RHGs though, that is if they reach a potential judged to be close (if not on par or superior) to the one of people with powers (examples: people who trained and have no supernatural powers, genetically modified people, ecc.)
Society tries to adapt, considering them in the same way as armed forces. Depending on societies, we have different situations: from coliseums to private organizations to anything else

-Is it considered normal?
Yes

--------------------------------------------------------

-What is the technology level of the RHG?
Extremely high, since high-tech weapons/beings and such are the norm. However, it depends on societies'/countries' developements (like, one country is advanced, others not)

-How advanced is their equipment and can they bring back the dead?
Unlimited, always open to new changes
About deads, I still can't work that part out

-----------------------------------------------------------

-How does the RHG keep track of its gladiators and how are all the battles recorded?
Depends from each reality: from satellites to chips to spectators to events to even word-to-mouth

--------------------------------------------------------------

-Where are the battles held? Are they constrained to just arenas or can they happen elsewhere, and if so, how big is their range? If there's collateral damage, what consequences do the gladiators suffer? Does the RHG cover for them? Provide them with legal protection?
Depends on situation

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

-And perhaps the biggest question which there might be no answer for: Where do all these people, mutants, super-powered beings, deities, magicicians, undescribable beasts come from and how does the RHG deal with them?
I imagined the existence of a kind of energy called "Fantasy" (:P) which caused the beginning of everything. Fantasy is almost everywhere and causes things that come in contact with it to change. Fantasy is also what composes the very inner nucleus of planets. By there, this energy irradiates on the planet's surface and can influence reality, including people's nature (not all of them though): some got phisically enhanced on extreme levels, some became mages, some others became extremely intelligent and so on
RHG is nothing more that a way to classify these beings and whatever comes near to their level (on a general way); for everything else they're just individuals with great powers

Just dropping what I once posted, given that I still find it to be applicable (with a few minor edits):

Quote from SJCRPV

RHG exists in an alternate Earth where the gladiatorial system that came from the Romans never ceased to exist and actually expanded as time went by to the point where, at the present (with present I mean near future), the, now named, Rock Hard Gladiator system is so big that it has absorbed most of its competition and would have a monopoly on the business if it were not for the intervention of the international governments. The other systems, mainly consisting of small arenas scattered around some of the main cities around the world have an agreement with the RHG to work as scouts and pick up undiscovered talent and shipping them there when ready, being the main reason why they're still in business. Housing is provided by the RHG system, starting with a simple apartment to new gladiators, leaving them the choice to upgrade if they have the money for it (houses owned by the system are rented at a discount) as well as medical care (being hired by the RHG could be considered a huge honor, given that it seems to be the general idea that RHG has great medical staff). If proven that they don't have enough funds on their own, new gladiators are offered enough to live through the month and are contractually obligated to repay at least three times the value they received before they can leave the system (assuming they don't die, of course). If gladiators get maimed beyond fix and are still bound by contract to remain in the system, they will be offered another job that they can fulfil until the contract is over.
Official battles don't exactly have to be on an arena or even in Stickpage. Gladiators can travel to wherever they want, but as long as they're registered, they might be hunted down by either other gladiators or the RHG itself if they believe the person is trying to escape without fulfilling their obligations (like trying to run away without refunding what he owes because the individual is too afraid to fight).

That’s basically the gist of it. I still have an idea as to how the gladiators are organized and what is broadcasted, but I’m not sure as to how the battles that happen without warning are recorded.

I never considered an opposing faction against the RHG because the way I saw it, it was just considered normal. Now though, I notice how stupid that was, as it's impossible to appease to both Greeks and Trojans. It could be fun to see them have some influence.

Now, lets expand a bit on this:

ID System - Surely the gladiators go through a test of some sort to see if they're apt to join the RHG (maybe skip this part in the import of talent, if this ends up being accepted) and they have to register in order to become official gladiators, that much must be assured, but in regards to how they keep track of it and how people can see if one is a member or not, I'd suggest something like what I mentioned last time. A "stamp" of sorts on the gladiator's body. Something like a code that can be easily concealable (or ways to conceal it might be provided by the RHG itself) to avoid social backlash (If I owned a store, I wouldn't be too happy to have a gladiator as a frequent costumer. He could pretty much destroy it. Maybe not on purpose, but he could attract people who just didn't care or could scare other costumers away) but still be easily presentable (for battle or legal purposes), if requested. This stamp, or code would, of course be removed, or, at the very least, made useless if the gladiator ended leaving the system.

I don't agree with the idea of cell phones because it's something that participants might "conveniently" forget to bring with them or have destroyed in a battle.

Broadcasting - I'd suggest something along the lines of this:
The RHG has their own website as well as a couple of paid channels.
Every gladiator's first, organized, battle would be streamed for free on their website as well as every fight that has existed for some time (how long, maybe a couple of months, if not more?), saved some exceptions. But other than that, it would require some kind of paid subscription.
As for recording them, I'd suggest RHG requests access to the CCTV systems of wherever they find their gladiators and likely pay for amateur footage of battles if they don't have any (I remember Crank mentioning something like this), which could sprout the idea of people trying to make a living by following the fighters and recording their battles

Technology - I'd say RHG has near-future level of technology. They, with time, could be able to regrow a gladiator's limbs or organs, but I wouldn't say bring them back from the dead all together, given that a brain cannot function without oxygen for long. Lets say they have a higher success rate on re-animation than what regular medical staff do.


Social Reistence - As normal as society could believe the gladiatorial system to be, surely not everyone agrees. There must be some kind of "faction" or "movement" against the RHG and what it stands for, but the questions would lie more on how big and how militant they would be as well as what their methods are. Are they a peaceful movement, creating harmless protests or do they try to fight fire with fire by boycotting battles and sabotaging RHG owned equipment?

Penalties - I don't yet know about what could be considered a penalty, but I disagree on the idea of suspending gladiators from battles. Not everyone that is in the system wants to be there, nor do all gladiators thrive with the notion of battle.

[spoiler=]- How did the RHG come to be, As in, when did it show up and what made it what it is today? -
[spoiler=]
RHG was a company that started like any other, starting small and as it became more successful, continued to grow. It is the sort of company, given it's large world-wide coverage, power, and influence not only culturally but economically to which it has been around for quite a long time. I would say possibly 20 or more years. What made it what it was and is today is very simple, again like other companies. There was a demand for what they supplied, so they supplied it and grew in size as profit from their services began to flow in.

In addition they played a secondary role in being a company that was directly involved with the gifted, superhuman, other planetary, people but I cover that in the other questions.
[/spoiler]


- How does it operate -
[spoiler=]
RHG as a corporation operates as follows:

In a general sense that most people would understand as operating, the company finds, recruits, captures, hires, what have you people with extraordinary talents in combat or simply talents in the supernatural. Pinning them against other fighters for the amusement of the public. It would likely be treated like a sport, where betting on certain gladiators can occur, it is also broadcast on TVs due to the limited amount of space within fighting arenas. This also gives justification for fights that happen that do not occur in the gladiatorial arenas.

Their profit is generated by the money used to buy arena tickets so they can watch gladiatorial fights live or through the companies that pay to have commercials that play between the television broadcasts of their fights. They also accept donations (whoever does that).

In another sense, RHG has been much like NASA. Through their own research to benefit the projects of their own company, they have discovered new technology that has been passed down to the public, of course trademarked and copyrighted given they are a private corporation, but are willing to sell it to those with the money. Their most prominent example including their medical technology.

From an economic standpoint, they play as a huge monopolistic company. The only one of their kind that has reached this level in the business sector. Despite laws in certain countries that feature their arenas that discourage this, the consequences of breaking up a company that handles the largest concentration of super powered mutants and skilled fighters could be seen by most.
[/spoiler]


- How much resistance to its operations does society give? Is it considered normal? -
[spoiler=]
This company has had decades in order to integrate itself slowly but surely within the modern day society. And with our standard technology and media systems established in most 1st world countries, information spreads fast and trends can be taken on very quickly. Society has found the gladiatorial fights to be the norm, for the most part. A majority of the population considers it a normal thing, and in fact sometimes can have discomfort at the idea of someone with super human abilities or fighting training to NOT be within the gladiatorial system, where they can at least be monitored by a powerful entity.

People with abnormal powers are normal, but only broadcasted and shown through the means of RHG tournaments, or having gone rouge and causing havoc to cities. Though not every super powered human on the planet is a gladiator, most of society just assumes they all are due to association. Either this, or are unstable rouges that want to burn down city blocks.

If anything, most believe that RHG as a company is doing the world a service by monitoring and watching over these super powered people that inhabit the planet, the gladiatorial fights are just a plus to the non-super powered public. as well as perhaps a safer catharsis for some of the considered 'unstable' gladiators.
[/spoiler]


- What is the technology level of the RHG? How advanced is their equipment and can they bring back the dead? -
[spoiler=]
This is one that I know is debated so here is my in the middle take.

RHG has the technology to help mend severed limbs, and correct organ damage as well as the various broken bones and lacerations that would normally occur in a fight. However, on the topic of death. I would assume they have perhaps -slightly- more advanced technology over usual doctors in the modern day. They can resuscitate people from the dead if they get there soon enough. After a certain amount of time, there is nothing they can do. But of course, if these fights are monitored, most gladiators can be saved.
[/spoiler]


- How does the RHG keep track of its gladiators and how are all the battles recorded? -
[spoiler=]
I would assume given the large expansiveness and possibilities of where battles can be held, they simply have cameras everywhere, and general positioning devices that can allow them to track and watch over specific gladiators if they so choose. So battles are simply recorded because there are cameras watching, if not a city, perhaps small stealth drones flying overhead. This can be left open to interpretation in my opinion.

For the gladiators themselves, I assume they are all put into a large computer database simply put. Though of course protected heavily for the privacy of the members involved in the fights. This database can be accessed through any major headquarters building, which are usually stationed in large cities like Toronto or New York, and of course these HQs are all over the world for global coverage.
[/spoiler]


- Where are the battles held? Are they constrained to just arenas or can they happen elsewhere, and if so, how big is their range? -
[spoiler=]
This I want to leave open for people to interpret, but for the most part they can be held anywhere and everywhere. They can be in arenas, this is an option, but they can also be outside of them. Though heavily populated areas are not recommended. I don't see much need for a range limit.
[/spoiler]


- If there's collateral damage, what consequences do the gladiators suffer? Does the RHG cover for them? Provide them with legal protection? -
[spoiler=]
It would depend on how many times this happened to a specific gladiator. For the most part, yes, the RHG system will cover any damages that occur during a fight if it takes place outside of an arena. Legal protection is already established for gladiators when they initially sign the contracts to become a fighter so long as innocent lives are not taken. When other civilian deaths come into play, punishments may vary. After numerous large scale offenses, or perhaps discovering they're just doing it intentionally, the RHG company will throw the bill at the gladiator to pay.
[/spoiler]


- Where do all these people, mutants, super-powered beings, deities, magicians, indescribable beasts come from -
[spoiler=]
Anywhere and everywhere. This is something I don't think should be established, because people with any sort of powers like these could come from anywhere. Different planets, galaxies, dimensions, walks of life. I don't think this is something we should put a cap on. However, things that are perhaps too outlandish will likely be called out by the community so the creator of the character can think it over.
[/spoiler]


- How does the RHG deal with them? -
[spoiler=]
I'd also like to take this opportunity to also perhaps establish how I believe society deals with super-powered folks as well.

RHG is as said before, one of the largest concentrations of these mutants, genetic defected people, what have you, as a result of the culture evolving to only really acknowledge these mutants as gladiators. For the most part, RHG does a passive aggressive role of seeking out super powered people and recruiting them as early and soon as possible, not only as for their potential as interesting gladiators to get more people to attend arena matches, but also to establish how they are keeping mutants off the streets and reducing their potential of becoming rouge and violent to innocent people.

They can't exactly -force- people to join their corporation, however, damned if they don't try. And in some cases, due to their massive influence and ability to regulate super powered mutants where the standard police forces and army may not be able to, they have gained a bit of legal advantage in the role of handing mutants. Say, if a super powered child is orphaned. They would likely have more say over what happens to the child than the child themselves. Likely taken in by RHG officials to be raised instead of a standard orphanage due to their potentially dangerous nature.

Society as a whole, on the other hand, treats gladiators like football stars (unless they are the more psychopathic kind, that's when they run). Autographs, admiration, etc for the most part. Super powered people that do not fall into the RHG system however are much more different. They are considered automatically dangerous due to their superiority over the average person and are usually discriminated against in perhaps mild or not-so-mild ways depending on the sub-culture the mutant lived in.

There are smaller gangs that make profit from kidnapping non-RHG mutants and selling them to the highest buyer either in less safe and less legal cage matches, or as simply super powered slaves for those that can afford them. However, most people tend not to acknowledge any disappearances of these people due to their lack of affiliation with the RHG system. Which is why they make the perfect targets for harassment and kidnapping.

And this, in turn, encourages even more super powered mutants to join RHG. For the security, the love of the people, as well as the money. Which is why the RHG company also tends to turn a blind eye to these incidents.
[/spoiler]

*stretches fingers*[/spoiler]

Perhaps I can be of assistance, Dipi. I do have some theories that can be resolved.

- How did the RHG come to be? As in, when did it show up and what made it what it is today?

As a gladiatorial entertainment for the community, it's derived from ancient tradition. This culture has used prisoners as means in bringing people into watching them fight to the death. Andre, the current president, has not only modernized it, he has revitalized the system to stand in legal terms. He decided to bring forth those who've been shunned by society and denounced as monsters into a place where they can be glorified as a champion. It was no longer prisoners, but those who have sought to find their own destiny and will by fighting against other opponents.

- How does it operate and how much resistance to its operations does society give? Is it considered normal?

They become RHGs by signing up through paperwork and an agreement with the system's moderators. They'll be ranked as beginners if it's their first time within their walls. Almost anyone can sign up, especially those who are born with special gifts that must be shared to the world. The system has its restrictions in keeping children (those without powers and just sign up to fight without parent supervision) out to prevent any cause of harm.

It is considered normal within their own society. Some countries have forbid RHG fights within their own borders to prevent and conflict with other neighboring hierarchies. It actually depends if its citizens are comfortable with coming of unique warriors and constant battles across the globe.

- What is the technology level of the RHG? How advanced is their equipment and can they bring back the dead?

Within the walls of RHG, it has extended passed its reach and exceeded with one of the most advanced technology ever known. Being within its city walls is like stepping into the fantastical future we've all pictured it would be. The city has its own grand stadium which is called the VRS, or the Virtual Reality Stadium. This stadium can create virtual landscapes that is surprisingly accurately similar to reality's; think of it as how they make environments in the Hunger Games. It's like that.

Each moderator has their own advanced equipment called the Moderator's Tranquilization System; this includes their own stuff in moderating different sections of the system, like RHG moderators, Community moderators, Generalization moderators, etc. They have their own police force known as The Hunter's Mark or The En's; RHG's most elite police force which includes special agents that can track any the Sheriff tells them to. Their most famous En officer was WeiEn, an ex-RHG and Moderator who was known for tracking down a lot of RHGs in his lifetime.

They are capable of bringing back the dead. Despite having their most highly trained physicians in their disposal, RHG have one thing that can reanimated deceased fighters back; The RHG Revitalization Chamber. This invention is the major turning point for RHG; if a fighter dies in battle, their body has been transported automatically to the chamber, in which the functions of the chamber restitches and resurrects the fallen champion. This highly depends if the fighter wishes not to be revitalized after the battle.

- How does the RHG keep track of its gladiators and how are all the battles recorded?

After being accepted into RHG, fighters will be injected with a high-tech chip that will detect if they're in a battle with an opposing RHG. This chip only works outside the city.

Within the city, spectators and archivists will watch these fighters go against each other. After the match and final results, the archivists will record them and all will be sent to the archives, where every RHG's record and history are stored.

- Where are the battles held? Are they constrained to just arenas or can they happen elsewhere, and if so, how big is their range? If there's collateral damage, what consequences do the gladiators suffer? Does the RHG cover for them? Provide them with legal protection?

RHG battles can occur anywhere in the world, depending on what country the battles are located. Some rather fight in the VRS, where they can fight in a chosen environment to their liking.

If anything happens outside the regulations of RHG, such as intentional killing or manslaughter, that RHG will be tried and their fate will be determined among the Supreme Court; First Degree Murder will be either banned indefinitely with abilities/weapons permanently locked and discontinued, or sentenced to Death. Third Degree Murder will be suspended from RHG for an extended period of time with abilities/weapons temporarily/permanently locked and discontinued.

The RHG system has covered everything for the gladiator; this majorly includes life insurance, health insurance, home insurance, etc. This goes especially for those who has a family, which then doubles their salary to help pay child support.

Every RHG is protected by the system and are responsible if they cause any kind of felonies. Any outside forces try to kill an RHG will be forcefully removed from the premises or arrested for violating its rules and regulations.

- And perhaps the biggest question which there might be no answer for: Where do all these people, mutants, super-powered beings, deities, magicicians, undescribable beasts come from and how does the RHG deal with them?

This highly depends upon their background. This system has been modernized and revitalized for a reason; to bring out the exiled and the chastised from the depression they've fallen into, and promise them to become stronger to fulfill their destinies. This grew to a powerful community, then to a shining beacon to fighters everywhere. No matter the feat, big or small, there's always room in the arena of battle.

These fighters are handled with care and precision; cautiously locking up mad beasts and other ravenous monsters in a special confinement room unless one has been called out for battle. Those with a sense of humanity are equally treated as people among the community.

I like to imagine that the RHG system works sort of like the Men In Black does. It started as sort of a fight club type thing. As they grew in popularity, the RHG began recruiting more and more "Special" fighters. Eventually, the system became a business, and grew to be an international corporation. The RHG's technology comes from gadgets and devices that they have encountered and "confiscated" over the years. Any registered Gladiator can challenge and fight another gladiator, in any place at anytime. The Men In Black part comes in where, after the battle ends, people are sent in to "neuralyze" witnesses and create excuses for the damages. Because of this, society doesn't have much information on the RHG system, they don't really know whether or not the system is even real because evidence is always erased. The Gladiators likely make money for each fight they win. The money that the system makes comes from the ones who are observing the fights (I.E. the users on stickpage who vote on the winning animation.) I believe that the origin of each gladiator is simply up to their creator and animator.

....damn I'm dwarfed.

All I believe in so far:
- It started out in Rome, where the gladitorial tradition didn't die down and they accept outside adventurers.
- The RHG has several tailor-made hospitals.
- Their employees aren't just ordinary folk, they have clerics, psychics and their fair share of divinities.
- Registered gladiators have free healthcare
- There are gladiators who join just for the healthcare
- They have 'Janitors' and 'Janitresses' to deal with inactive gladiators and those who just want the healthcare by fighting them, either to fill their 'fighting quota' or at least force them into retirement/killing them outright.
- I disagree with Coal's notion, people are actually fine, if a bit hassled, with the sight of schoolchildren duking it out with stationery.
- It's a way of life now, and you can see little kids look up to Kalena Eirwen and FLLFFL and say "When I grow up I want to be a gladiator! Maybe with a tragic backstory!"
- Registrants can be registered by other people, which of course would mean that it could be used as an assassination tool or an easy way to make bounties.
- They have a code of ethics...despite all the gore flying everywhere, you can't desecrate your opponent or some other shtick.

You know who can answer this? ask stone because he did made the RHG World so yeah XD hehehe but his is really interesting and I really love to imagine that the RHG system was like a Battling Businesses, It was made for the people how loves to fight and proving them self stronger and it's has a Pick Your Match System too because I notice this in some of the RHG battle Animations. That they have the info of their opponent or just strait away challenging them that they already know that they're an RHG fighter and what are they capable off but the much larger question is who or what is giving them the info of there opponent or even the meeting place that there going to battle on? hmmm we will never know :3

Dammit, I knew I shouldn't check my phone before going to bed.

To open with, Hewitt, I know this is going to turn into one of those things where we both explain ourselves to the point where we can't tell if the other is actually getting pissed, so let's just agree to disagree upfront. I don't want this to become an uncomfortable deserted tread so if you feel the need to please just PM me instead.

That being said, in defense of the purpose of the threat, I think it's actually healthy to apply critical thinking to the little things, break them down to see how they would function. Chances are it exercises the brain a lot more than the other options out there. Second, I think your statement of it not having been more than one stick fighting another doesn't quite fit the whole situation. This started in the writer's lounge right? We're more storyline oriented by nature, so overreaching things would be a massive help for continuity if you're playing 'winner's cannon' rather than just following your own path. That being said I understand why animators a might want a say as well, seeing how this all started out as their thing. Lastly, regardless if this takes off or not, it brings a very distinct unity to the table when everyone starts pitching in. If you think these treads are pointless that's fine and you're entitled to your opinion by all means, but a lot of people look up to you and I know a massive issue in the lounge contributing to the overall lack of comments is shyness. Someone with a name like yours calling out something they think is cool and want to be a part of boring and all talk, it's really not going to help anything.

I'll probably regular contribute here after work tomorrow.

Quote from Hewitt

Actually, we had a bit of talk about this in the Batcave in the past, and stone has mentioned that (for RHGs at least) making an overlying plot and universe for what is essentially "2 sticks fighting" is not only unnecessary, but reminiscent of people who are too into RHGs.

It's the same reason why I'm dastardly bored for these kinds of threads with ideas that never come to be.

Just fight your damn battles and focus on the animating.

***I'm sure I'm going to earn some ire for saying that, specially since I don't animate myself. But it would be nice to see one of these ideas get implemented for once. At least on a micro-fan scale. Otherwise, it's just talk. And it's nice to talk but really rather boring if you think about it.



Oh but don't mind me. Please. Continue making up this fantasy that can "become" something.

No, you earned some ire because, after you said people's RHG stories were all the same, you are now suggesting them to only focus on the animation side -.-
Also, for the last thing you wrote, since it makes me think that you wanted to actually say "I'm better than you guys anyway"...

ANYWAY, guys. In my opinion, RHG is all about head-canon, how you think something works, works, and honestly think that we should leave it at that, since, this is just me, but I dislike seeing incompatibility, and contradictions in stories, plots and the like. Call it writer's OCD or such XD

Though, I agree that this is a pretty fun idea.

Also, Hew, I can see what you mean, but if you look at other OCT's (Original Character Tournaments, yeah, there're others,) you can see that there's a whole overlaying plot that weaves together little details, like, why participants fight, and about the particular setting the tourney takes place in, though this is kinda difficult for RHG since the particular setting is the WHOLE universe, or even parallel universes.

Anyway.

- How did the RHG come to be? As in, when did it show up and what made it what it is today? How does it operate and how much resistance to its operations does society give? Is it considered normal?

This is interesting, because as far as I've read, I haven't seen any like anti-RHG riots in cities and stuff, so the obvious answer would be oversight for such things, but an in-universe answer would be that everyone is okay with RHG, and that everyone CAN join RHG, so long as they are skilled enough. As for how it came to be, we can take real life facts and base on them, the most obvious founder would be Andre, Stone's RHG, and it was founded in late 2008, I think. Though, that doesn't mean that the world was without badasses before RHG was founded, we've seen many stories of fighters from the past finding their way into the tournaments.

- What is the technology level of the RHG? How advanced is their equipment and can they bring back the dead?

For all we know, the RHG officials have the most advanced technology, more so than all other clans/organizations in this world, and some clans/organizations have space faring ships. Reviving contestants from the dead is certainly plausible, if not by technology, by paranormal abilities, we've seen many ghosts and souls competing, some Gladiators even have powers that resurrect the dead, its not impossible that some officials might have these abilities too.

- How does the RHG keep track of its gladiators and how are all the battles recorded?

Satellites, spiritual mediums, nanobots, ghost sentries, and dimension walkers carrying cameras? Again, as I mentioned above, some participants are already this, it wouldn't be impossible if officials also have these kinds of abilities or are ghosts themselves.

- Where are the battles held? Are they constrained to just arenas or can they happen elsewhere, and if so, how big is their range? If there's collateral damage, what consequences do the gladiators suffer? Does the RHG cover for them? Provide them with legal protection?

No, battles aren't limited to arenas. They can be held on individual planets for all they care. I think the RHG is the governing body of the world, so they would definitely cover for the Gladiators, especially if they wreck a planet, though I'm sure RHG would have enough foresight to make only uninhabited planets battlegrounds.

- And perhaps the biggest question which there might be no answer for: Where do all these people, mutants, super-powered beings, deities, magicicians, undescribable beasts come from and how does the RHG deal with them?

That's actually fairly easy to explain, if you just look at the stories of the actual RHGs it explains everything, well sometimes. Mutants usually get mutated (duh) by something like toxic waste, radiation, etc. Super-powered beings are maybe born, some receive powers from other sources. Deities, well I'm willing to bet there are multiple alternate planes of reality just parallel to the phyiscal one, and these guys hail from them. Magicians, well, it was implied that magic already exists in the RHG world, where it comes from though, is anybody's guess. Depending on what you mean by indescribable beasts, Angels and Demons, From alternate planes of reality. Aliens, space. Eldritch Abominations, either or both.

I just realized this after I typed all that, but to make things a lot simpler, we could just think of the RHG world/universe similar to a superhero universe, like those in Marvel and DC, there are many similar things there, super-powered heroes, vigilantes, villains, deities, aliens, entities, all that.

I just want to say Nanite that your comparison for thr RHG with OCTs doesn't seem to really fit. Those tourneys have a set plot even before it accepts auditions, it has an ending and basically there's a single winner who gets some prizes in the end. I'd say that the RHG is more an OCL (Original Character League) but without a story or theme. It IS basically just two sticksfigures fighting one another, people can still make something out of it though and be do anything they want with the concept, so I like that the RHG has no set story. But it does get boring if it's just fighting haha~



Anyways, I've got a few ideas from this and gleaning a few inspirations and additions to some. And if I pretty much reiterated some of people's ideas, I'm sorry. I'm just writing down what's in my head.

I think that being a gladiator in the RHG is a universally accepted profession, and the spread of its influence, as time went on, made everyone find it normal and accepted it, desensitized from the violence. I'm saying this if the "roman gladiator fighting never died out" route was taken.

Speaking of the Romans, I used to research about gladiators (for other reasons l, of course) and found that it wasn't only slaves that fought. People (mostly those with a military background) and even some nobles, like the emperor, had willingly signed themselves up to the gladiator life or fought in the arena. For the emperor it was mostly for sport, but other people being a gladiator provided them somewhere to sleep, eat, live and earn income from. They could buy their own property, livestock and other things. And if they survived their fights until they were granted their freedom, they left with their earnings and lived quite comfortable lives afterwards. However not many people managed to get there in the end, but I'd like to think that the RHG still provides them those sort of things. If you pass through their test and you get registered, then you get all those benefits.

Though there WILL be people who would abuse that, which is why they'll have a sort of system where gladiators need to fight a certain amount of people per year to still be deemed 'active'. If they don't then tough luck and they're taken out of the system and be denied those benefits. They could try to get back, but they're going to wait for a set amount of time until they get their next next.

Also gladiators can choose to accept or refuse the housing/accomodation and can live somewhere else like say their clan's house/headquarters (if they have any). I'd also say that the money that gladiators recieve are based on how entertaining it was, but then I see how this could be a problem if it was solely based on a person's personal preference on what fights are good. Maybe it's a set amount of money, and the more well-known and active a gladiator is the more money they get. And if they fight and destroy any sort of property, some of their earnings get deducted by how badly a place was ruined. Which brings me to the RHG technology.

I would say that they are pretty much advanced than what society has today. Given that some gifted people could be working for the RHG, they could have forwarded technology forward a few decades. Taking inspiration from a webcomic I read, I'd also like to think that with all the magic (as well as powers) people have, they might merge the two together into some sort of etheric science which is used to create most of the inventions that the RHG has brought into the world. Things like teleporters, reviving gears, among other things. It's not entirely scientific as some of its functions can't really be explained through scientific methods, but it has a bit of magic dashed into it that it makes it work. They mostly use this etheric science for a few main things:

1) Gladiators having to carry any sort of gadgets besides the ones they already have, will probably be a bad idea, as SJCRPV said. Adding on to what he also mentioned, I like the idea that SJCRPV brough out with tattoos/marks/stamp. They could stamp a special mark on gladiators to keep track of them, but it fades after a few minutes into their skin colour. This mark acts as a sort of locator for the RHG who keeps every gladiator in check, as well as other things like health conditions, their pulse and if they're fighting. Unlike the marks that SJCRPV said, this one is more permanent and harder to take off a person, unless it's handled by the RHG. There are also other ways like using magic to extract it off a person but it's rather difficult.

2) When a fight occurs, they will probably have a medic team in standby. These medics carry the best healing equipment around the world and, using the teleporters, can get to any gladiator. Though there might be some exception to this. With a flick of a switch they could heal a person's whole body no matter, unless they're ripped apart atom by atom. The mark comes in again when a gladiator is near death by having a sort of energy that keeps their consciousness and soul anchored to this earthly plane, at least until the medics take them to a hospital to revive them. This revival tech can only be use within a certain time frame, on both gladiators and civilians, but civilians need to be immediately taken care of as they don't have that long of a time as registered gladiators do.

RHG could also have special teams to repair damaged property. Not sure what but I'm thinking that any sort of building that is to be made needs to have extremely detailed blueprints and such.

I would also imagine that the RHG might have made some agreements with certain countries, if we take it to the "parallel dimension like our own" route. Like for every battle that takes place within that country's borders, then they get part of the revenue that comes from it as well as share some of the tech that they have. In exchange the country will grant a sort of immunity to any sort of registered gladiator in the RHG system. However some countries don't agree to it and therefore are off limits to any sort of official fight. If any gladiator fights in that country they are vulnerable to any sort of charges against them and will be tried and persecuted. They will get a lawyer provided by the RHG, but those are mostly reserved for individuals that they deem worth of that expense. However unaffiliated countries also act as a protected zone for gladiators catching for a break. There will probably be other cities and areas that are off limits from fighting as well, or the gladiator will be punished some way.

Speaking of official fights, I'd think that it's only deemed official if the RHG had set up the match or if all the combatants involved in the fight agree to it. It must be a verbal agreement too for the record, and the mark, again, takes that into account and registers the fight as 'in progress'. It also sends a warning to any civilian in the area. How, I'm not sure. Maybe it sends them a text message to evacuate an area or the RHG set up some way to warn them. Though if the gladiator declines the fight and their opponent attacks them anyway, they will be handled by the RHG immediately. They might also have a team of gladiators to catch rouge gladiators and take them in or kill them. If they kill someone outside a fight or a non-gladiator then they will be tried and charged accordingly.

Anyways, those are my thoughts for now~
o w o

What is the technology level of the RHG? How advanced is their equipment and can they bring back the dead?

I'm sure the tech is extremely advanced. I believe that whenever 2 rhgs (who are officially registered within the rhg system) battle and one dies as an outcome, they just respawn somewhere. Like either at a set place or like some Rhg HQ. Well that's just how I sleep at night so I know my character isn't dead :D